Thinking of You

So yesterday I got my workshop order in. I ordered a couple of sets that I have wanted. I thought this one would do some great simple cards. I saw a card that used the Define your Life set with it. I just had to have that set but do not use it as much as I thought I would. I think it will be great paired with Take Three. This was for the Limited Use Challenge today. The challenge was to use brads. The extra touch was that the brads had to be the only embellishment used and had to be used within the image. I thought they would go great as flower centers. The hardest part was to pick out what colors I wanted to use. Can you tell I am an Earth Tone kind-of-girl? I did the background dots with the piercing template from the mat pack and the Stylus. I got the idea from Diane. What a fabulous idea, and so easy! I stamped the image in the Groovy Guava and then went over what I wanted to change with the Really Rust marker. I also sponged around the edge of the background with Groovy Guava.

Stamps: Stitched, Take Three, Define Your Life

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Groovy Guava, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: More Mustard and Ruby Red Brads, Sylus and Mat Pack for dry Embossing

Cat Tails.....& Bird?

Ok, maybe I should of just left it alone....today's Ways to Use it challenge was to use birds. Seriously, I went through all of my stamps and there were no birds to be found, except for my penquin in the Wild About You set. So I decided to make my own....or so I thought. I love the way the fence and cat tails turned out but the bird, I just could not get it right. When I was taking the picture my daughter asked me why the bee was so large. Any way here is my bee---I mean bird card.

Stamps: none

Paper: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa, Wild Wasabi, Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black, More Mustard

Ink: sponging-Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black

Accessories: Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Small Tag Punch, Word Window Punch

Fresh Cuts Block

Ever have one of those days when you just do not have the time to stamp, but the design will not leave you alone? That is how it was today. My first problem was I started my day by cleaning off my desk and then I thought I could read the color challenge just to see....well then I had an idea that just would not leave me alone so I just had to make it. Now I have to start again by cleaning off my desk. I stamped the main image in both colors trimmed them exactly the same (down to 3 3/16" x 3"). I then put them together and cut the blocks in 1 1/16" x 1". I mounted on the Taken with Teal and trimmed. I had a problem getting a good picture. I get the best light on my deck, of course there had to be a slight wind today. With the Rhinestone brads the balance was a little off. The card fell and the deck is two levels off the ground. The mosquitoes are horrible with all of the rain so I did not look forward to going down and getting it. Oh well...the price we pay for a card!

Stamps: Fresh Cuts

Paper: Wild Wasabi, Taken with Teal, Whisper White

Ink: Taken with Teal, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads

Check out my new Tutorials Section. I have posted tutorials for the Shadow Box Card and Etched Glass. I hope to get more posted soon!

Friends Picture Frame

What a freaky coincidence! Yesterday my daughter had a small birthday party, just a few friends over. I took their picture right away and printed them out. One of the projects I had planned for them was to decorate their own frames. I bought the 8x8 frames at the dollar tree. I gave them the mat and let them decorate them how they wanted to. I saved my daughters because I wanted to do hers up special for her. While they were playing some games I put them in frames and added the pictures. It was one of the gifts they took home with them. So today I wake up and what is the Ways to use it challenge?!?!...to use a picture. So I got to finish her frame today. The bottom corner rub on is done on the glass, but the Forever and ever is on the paper. I love it and plan on doing this every year with the girls. They had a lot of fun and their moms loved the idea. Tomorrow I will show you another project I did with the girls....

Stamps: Blossoms Abound, Dotted Background

Paper: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Boho Blossoms Punch, Always Artichoke Brads, Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip Poly Twill, Eastern Elegance Rub Ons, 1/4" circle punch

Sketch

Well, today I am actually doing the sketch challenge on the day it was assigned. This was a challenge for me. I started it early this morning and kind of worked on it off and on. I was stumped on what to add to the top. While I was running to pick up the girls for my daughter's birthday party I thought about how I used to color the brads. I thought why couldn't I do that with the Jumbo Eyelets. So I dabbed the eyelets in the craft pad, dried with the heat gun. After a few coats it was still warm and ready to be dipped in the clear embossing powder. I did the same with the Build-a-brad but I used the Black Embossing powder to finish. I used my hobby knife on the top part of the flower on the bottom so that I could slip the diamond shaped layer in behind it. I just about got my samples done for my Fresh Cuts stamp night next week.

Stamps: Fresh Cuts

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion

Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Build-a-brads

Rosey Red

Oh, I am loving this set! This card was made with the color challenge today. Since today is my birthday, I am 30+11, I am in the need of some Thank You cards. I stamped the main image with Real Red on the Regal Rose, then layered. I stamped the Sanded Background on the card base in So Saffron and sponged the edges with Real Red. In fact I think I sponged almost everything with Real Red. I even edged the Regal Rose ribbon with the Real Red marker too. I was surprised how these colors went together. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Stamps: Sanded background, Fresh Cuts

Paper: So Saffron, Real Red, Rose Red

Ink: So Saffron, Real Red

Accessories: Photo Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain Oh, and I forgot to add that I got to use the wonderful ribbon iron my favorite oldest son and daughter-in-law got me for my birthday (Thank you Heath and Lois)

Criss Cross Cuts

So I had some time today and wanted to do some stamping. I went and grabbed one of the Sketch challenges that I missed while my life was too busy to stamp. The smaller front was stamped with Old Olive Print Pattern. The dashed lines were added with a Chocolate Chip marker. I sponged some Chocolate Chip ink around the edges. For the sentiment I stamped it twice, once with Old Olive and once with Chocolate Chip. I punched it out with the small oval punch, behind it I punched Old Olive with the Word Window Punch and Chocolate Chip with the large Oval Punch. I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Print Pattern Background

Paper: River Rock, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Old Olive Poly Twill, Hodge Podge Hardware, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Graduation Thank You Card

So my friends informed me I had to make a wow card for a Thank you (Thanks Julie & Lisa!). Two of my kids graduated from Kindergarten this week. So I was wondering if I had to send two thank you cards to everyone who gave them each a gift? This is how I decided to cover all on the bases. I consider this a wow card and I can put Seth's thank you on the top (since he is a year older) and Shelby's on the bottom. That way it is like two cards in one....do you think I can get away with that? You can find a tutorial on how to do the slider cards here. They are so much fun to make. If you have any troubles either e-mail me or ask in the comment section.

Stamps: Elementary Essentials, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, Short and Sweet

Paper: Taken with Teal, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Cameo Coral

Ink: Taken with Teal, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Cameo Coral

Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Spiral Punch, Corner Rounder

Have a WONDERFUL Weekend!

Full Size Bronco

I wanted to use two aspects in this card. Since the Hodge Podge Hardware in the current catalog will be retiring when this catalog goes in august I think it is time I stop hoarding it and use it. The other thing I want to show case is the envelopes. I make a few full size cards (8.5" x 11" folded in half) for our Home Educators's group to send as Thank Yous etc. I use to make my own envelopes until I actually sat down and read the sizes of envelopes we sell....I can get 20 of them for $5.50. That is quite a bit cheaper than what I was making them for and a much better quality.
To do the main image of the card I punched out a 1 3/8" circle put in on the Very Vanilla cardstock with temporary adhesive. I then ran my brayer with Certainly Celery Ink over it until it was covered, then stamped the bronc on it.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Happy Happy Birthday Jumbo Wheel

Paper: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Ink: Certainly Celery, Basic Brown, Old Olive

Accessories: Brayer, Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Hodge Podge Hardware Buckle

Fresh Cut Notes

In case you do not know this is the special for the month of June. This set is a preview from the upcoming catalog. It will be released in August. You can:

• Buy the Fresh Cut stamp set and get the Fresh-Cut Notes for just $5 (limit one Fresh-Cut Notes at $5).
• Buy just the stamp set for: $21.95.
• Buy just the Fresh-Cut Notes for $8.95.

The note cards are 4"x4". The flower is laser cut by SU. I first stamped front and pushed out the petals. I then put a 3"x3" groovy guava cards stock on the inside, I put the Ruby Red 5 Petal Flower punched flower behind first. I then put the Groovy Guava Boho blossom and 1/4" circle punch on the front. These would be an adorable card to put in with a gift.

Stamps: Fresh Cuts

Paper: Fresh Cut Note Cards, Groovy Guava, Ruby Red

Ink: Groovy Guava, Ruby Red

Accessories: Boho Blossom Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, 5 Petal Flower Punch